Dulcie September - a voice of reason

South Africa’s National Women's Day commemorates the national march of women that took place
on the 9th of August 1956. It was orchestrated with the purpose of filing a petition against apartheid
legislation that required people of colour to carry what was known as a ‘pass’ – a means of
maintaining segregation from within. Over six decades later, the expression "Now you touched the
women, you hit a rock" has gained an iconic status of showcasing women's courage, strength, and
perseverance in South Africa. The embodiment of such a “woman of power” can be found by turning
one’s eyes to none other than Dulcie September.

Dulcie began her activism in the left-wing movement of the Western Cape by mobilising
communities against the apartheid regime during the 1950s and early-1960s. She wrote about the
experiences of women at a time when women were openly subjugated by the government.
However, she also played a key role in the anti-apartheid movement by educating, representing, and
campaigning to overcome racial divisions in South Africa and to advocate for the fair treatment of all
citizens. The life of September was shaped by this fight against injustice. Archive documents show
how as a freedom fighter, she boldly faced gender-based discrimination, even amongst her allies .

Dulcie’s valiant efforts were maintained despite being incarcerated for five years owing to
“conspiracy to commit sabotage” and – upon being released – an additional five years restriction of
movement. When her restraining order came to an end in January 1974, Dulcie applied to leave the
country to study at Madeley College of Education in Staffordshire. After completing her studies in
1976, she joined the ANC and held several positions before being appointed as the ANC's chief
representative in France, Switzerland, and Luxembourg.

Eventually, her involvement in the anti-apartheid movement led to her assassination on March 29,
1988, at the ANC offices in France, Paris.

“As we celebrate and remember the life of Dulcie September during International Women’s month,
we must also have special focus on forging cooperation which will empower women of France and
South Africa, to ensure that equality and gender parity Dulcie September fought for is indeed
realised. Let us identify areas of cooperation which will preserve Dulcie September’s legacy. “
Deputy Minister Fransman delivers a keynote address at the Commemoration and Wreath laying
ceremony for Dulcie September in Arcueil, France, 29 March 2013. (400 words)
Vrouedag herdenk die nasionale optog van vroue op 9 Augustus in 1956 met die doel om 'n
versoekskrif te rig teen wetgewing wat vereis het dat Afrika-persone die pas moes dra. In die 60 jaar
sedert die gebeure van 1956, het die uitdrukking:” Nou het u die vrouens aangeraak, u het 'n rots
geslaan” ikoniese betekenis gekry om vroue se moed , krag en deursettingsvermoe in Suid-Afrika
te wys.

Dulcie September is die verpersoonliking van 'n vrou van krag. Sy het haar aktivisme in die linkse
beweging van die Wes-Kaap begin met die mobilisering van gemeenskappe teen die
apartheidsregime gedurende die 50's en vroeë 60's totdat sy vir 'n periode van vyf jaar gevange
geneem is vir sameswering om sabotasie te pleeg en daarna na haar vrylating vir 'n verdere 5 jaar
van inperking.

Toe haar inperkingsbevel ten einde geloop het, het Dulcie in Januarie 1974 aansoek gedoen om die
land te verlaat om aan die Madeley College of Education in Staffordshire te studeer.

Nadat sy haar studies in 1976 voltooi het, het sy by die ANC aangesluit en verskeie poste beklee
voordat sy as hoofverteenwoordiger van die ANC in Frankryk, Switserland en Luxemburg aangestel
is. Uiteindelik het haar betrokkenheid by die anti-apartheidsbeweging gelei tot haar sluipmoord op
29 Maart 1988 by die ANC-kantore in Frankryk, Parys.

Argiefdokumente toon aan hoe sy altyd buite en in haar beweging teen geslagsgebaseerde
diskriminasie gepraat het.

Sy was 'n belangrike stem om te praat vir diegene wat hul regte geskend het - sy het geskryf oor die
ervarings van vroue in 'n tyd toe hulle gesien word as stille stemme in die agtergrond.

Sy het 'n sleutelrol in die anti-apartheidsbeweging gespeel deur mense op te voed, te

verteenwoordig en te kampe om rasse-verdeeldheid in Suid-Afrika te oorkom en om seker te maak
dat mense regverdig behandel word teen segregasie. Die lewe van September was gevorm deur die
stryd teen onreg. As 'n vryheidsvegter het sy met vrymoedigheid geslagsgebaseerde diskriminasie
gekonfronteer, selfs onder haar bondgenote.
 Dulcie September a voice of reason

Women's Day commemorates the national march of women on August 9, 1956, with the purpose of
filing a petition against legislation that required African people to carry a pass. In the 60 years since
the events of 1956, the expression, "Now you touched the women, you hit a rock," gained iconic
status to show women's courage, strength, and perseverance in South Africa.

Dulcie September is the embodiment of a woman of power. She began her activism in the left-wing
movement of the Western Cape by mobilizing communities against the apartheid regime during the
1950s and early 1960s until she was jailed for a period of five years for conspiracy to commit
sabotage and then after her. release for another 5 years of restriction.

When her restraining order came to an end, in January 1974, Dulcie applied to leave the country to
study at Madeley College of Education in Staffordshire.

After completing her studies in 1976, she joined the ANC and held several positions before being
appointed as the ANC's chief representative in France, Switzerland, and Luxembourg. Eventually, her
involvement in the anti-apartheid movement led to her assassination on March 29, 1988, at the ANC
offices in France, Paris.

Archive documents show how she has always spoken out against gender-based discrimination
outside and in her movement.

She was an important voice to speak for those who violated their rights - she wrote about the
experiences of women at a time when they were silent voices in the background.

She played a key role in the anti-apartheid movement by educating, representing, and campaigning
to overcome racial divisions in South Africa and to ensure that people are treated fairly against
segregation. The life of September was shaped by the fight against injustice. As a freedom fighter,
she boldly faced gender-based discrimination, even among her allies. (302)